Ballast applicator and distributor



G. W. HUNT BALLAST APPLICATOR AND DISTRIBUTOR Nov. 29, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 20, 1957 OW k .3 NM. N

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Nov. 29, 1960 G, w. HUNT BALLAST APPLICATOR AND DISTRIBUTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 20, 1957 IN VENTOR & e 0/y/4 //z//7/ Nov- 29, 9 w. HUNT 2,961,975

BALLAST APPLICATOR AND DISTRIBUTOR Filed June 20, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR United States Patent This invention relates to a ballast applicator and distributor.

The invention is more particularly concerned with an elongated relatively shallow receptacle adapted to extend transversely beneath a railroad car and to be suspended therefrom and which is further adapted to receive ballast from an opening in the bottom of the car and distribute the same on a railroad bed.

While ballast applicators and distributors have heretofore been provided for operative association with railroad cars, a principal object of the invention is to generally improve upon such prior construction.

Other objects of the invention are as follows:

The provision of a ballast applicator which in use reduces ballast waste in the provision of efiective means for regulating the ballast flow from the applicator to the railroad bed;

The provision of a ballast applicator having means for effective ballast control by an operator supported thereby and at each end thereof; 7

The provision of a ballast applicator capable of accurate control of the ballast flow onto the railroad bed thereby reducing subsequent labor required to secure a smooth and uniform ballast section;

The provision of a ballast applicator which embodies wheels rollable on the tracks on which the railroad car supporting the applicator is positioned;

, The provision of a ballast applicator having means for disposition of same beneath a railroad car hopper and wherein the applicator is supported by the railroad car with its bottom disposed beneath the upper faces of the railroad rails, and wherein the applicator provides for free swinging of the hopper door.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the improved ballast applicator shown in operative association with a railroad hopper car.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the ballast applicator with a portion thereof broken away.

Figure 3 is a more or less diagrammatic end elevational view of the railroad hopper car and illustrating in particular novel means for elevating the applicator with respect to the railroad rails on which the applicator is supported in its operative position.

Figure 4 is a more or less diagrammatic side elevational view of the hopper car with two of the ballast applicators in accordance with the present invention operatively associated therewith, but in different positions relative to the railroad rails.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail side elevational view of a portion of a hoist structure for elevating the applicator to a position above and out of contact with the railroad rails.

- Figure ;6 is a side elevational view of one of the intermediate cross braces of a frame embodied in the applicator structure.

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a structure supporting roller wheels which are engageable with railroad rails and which structure is disposed within said frame parallel with and disposed between certain of said intermediate cross braces.

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the structure of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of propelling means for the applicator frame.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a fragmental side elevational view of another portion of the applicator propelling means.

Figure 12 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is an elevational view of an end ballast retainer.

Figure 14 is a broken elevational view of an applicator propulsion rod associated with the structures of Figures 9 to 12. I A

Figure 15 is a fragmental side elevational view showing a releasable connection between an operator carriage and the applicator frame.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the improved ballast applicator is designated in its entirety at 10 of which two thereof are shown for selective use with a railroad three-hopper car C in Figure 4.

The applicator 10 comprises an elongated rectangular frame including opposite end cross braces 11 and opposite side plates 12. Disposed within the rectangular frame 11-12 are a plurality of intermediate cross braces 13 which are parallel with the end cross braces 11 and are disposed in spaced relation longitudinally of the frame.

The frame is adapted to be supported on railroad rails R by means of roller wheels 14 of which there is a pair adjacent each end of the frame.

Each wheel 14 of each pair thereof is rotatably supported by a pair of brackets 15 and each pair of brackets 15 is secured to a side plate 12 as by means of bolts 16. The roller wheel hubs are preferably provided with oil casings 17 and each pair of roller wheels is protected from the action of ballast by means of a cover plate 18 which is provided at each .end thereof with a pair of downturned flanges 19 which are secured to the brackets 15 as by means of bolts 20.

At this point, it is to be observed that the upper edges of intermediate cross braces 13 are downwardly curved as at 13:: from the opposite side plates 12', and that the cover plates 18 have a low mid-section for a purpose as will appear hereinafter.

The structure so far described may be considered as a ballast receiving pan whose bottom comprises .a plurality of rotary grates 21 which are disposed between the intermediate cross braces 13 as indicated in Figure 2. Each rotary grate 21 comprises a shaft 22 whose opposite ends are rotatably journalled in the side plates 12, and a pair of fins 23 extending diametrically outwardly from the shaft. Each of the grate shafts 22 is provided with a lever arm 234 which arms are normally disposed vertically when the grate fins 23 are disposed horizontally as is indicated in Figure 1. i V V The upper ends of the lever arms 24 are pivotally connected to horizontally disposed connecting bars 25 and 26 (Figure 2). p

As will be observed in Figures 1 and 2, there are thre lever arms 24 adjacent each end of the frame and on the rear side thereof and to which the connecting bars: 25 are pivoted. Furthermore, there are three lever arms 24 to which each of the connecting bars 26 is pivotally connected and the latter lever arms are disposed on the far side of the frame and adjacent the longitudinal center thereof. It is to be also observed that six rotary grates 21 are controlled by connecting bars 25 and 26 adjacent one end of the frame and a like number are controlled by connecting bars 25 and 26 adjacent the opposite end of the frame.

A pair of laterally opposed operating levers 27 are pivotally connected as at 28 to the side members 12 adjacent each end thereof, and tubular handles 29 have corresponding ends thereof telcscoped over ends of operating levers 27, which as indicated in Figure 1, are of bell crank form.

The upper ends of levers 27 are pivotally connected to the outer ends of the connecting bars 25 as at 30.

A ballast retainer 31 (not shown in Figure 2) is provided at each end of the frame and which includes opposite end portions 3111 which are bent at right angles to the major central portion for extension along opposite sides of the frame as is shown in Figure 1.

The operating handles 29 are normally inclined away from opposite ends of the frame as indicated in Figure 1 for control by an operator 0, and the invention includes a carriage 32 for each operator which is disposed outwardly of each end of the frame. Each such carriage 32 is of generally U-form in side elevation and comprises a pair of laterally opposed straps including vertically spaced horizontal portions 33 and 34 unitary with a vertical portion 35, and a second vertical portion 36 unitary with horizontal portion 34 and which terminates in a horizontal portion 37 which is riveted to a plate 37a leaving a hook 37b for releasably gripping the top flange of the adjacent I-beam cross brace 11, and the vertical portion 36 is provided with a stabilizing block 36a which freely engages the bottom flange of the brace 11 on the side of the web thereof opposed to the hook 37b. A hook and a block may be provided for each strap or one each thereof may be common to both straps. A seat panel 38 is supported on and riveted to each pair of horizontal portions 33 and a foot rest panel 39 is supported on and riveted to each pair of horizontal portions 34.

This structure provides comfortable seating for an operator 0 at each end of the frame and in a position for easy control of the operating levers 27 and the rotary grates operated thereby.

The abovedescribed ballast applicator is adapted for positioning below one or another of the hoppers H of a railroad car as indicated in Figure 4 and the invention includes means for propulsion of the applicator or applicators or movement thereof with the moving car as well as other means for elevating same above the rails R upon encountering grade crossings, cross overs, turnouts, station curbs, etc.

The applicator propulsion means for each applicator comprises a pair of brackets 40 adjacent one end of the frame and one at each side thereof and which brackets are secured to the frame side members 12 as is indicated in Figure 2.

Each bracket 40 includes a projection 41 of rectangular cross section and which, as indicated in Figure 2, projects laterally outwardly from the frame side members 12. Each projection 41 is provided with a transverse aperture 42 for a purpose later to appear.

This propulsion means further comprises a pair of saddles 43, each of which is supported by and in depending relation to a car step S and to which the saddle is secured by means of a bolt 44 extending through opposite legs 45 of the saddle which is generally inverted U-shape as shown in Figure 12, and the bight 46 of the saddle extends over the step S, and the bolt 44 is disposed closely beneath the same.

A tubular propulsion rod 47 is operatively associated with each projection 41 and a companion saddle 43 as is indicated in Figures 3 and 4. The inner end of each rod 47 telescopes over a companion projection 41 and the rod is secured thereto by means of a pin 48 removably disposed in the projection aperture 42 and extending through selected transversely aligned apertures 49 in the opposed walls of the rod which, as indicated in Figures 11 land 14, is provided with a longitudinal series thereof. The outer end of the rod extends between the opposed legs 45 of saddle 43, and a bolt 50 is removably disposed in one of the several vertical series of transversely opposed apertures 51 in the saddle legs and a pair of transversely aligned aperture 49 in the rod.

The applicator elevating means comprises a pair of L-brackets 55 secured by bolts 56 to each of the end cross braces 11. The lower ends of a pair of upwardly converging chains 57 are removably engaged with the vertical flanges 55a of the L-brackets 55, and the adjacent upper ends of the chains are engaged with a relatively large link 58 (Figure 5) A hanger 59 (Figure 3) is suspended from each side wall W of the car C, as by means of hooks 60 on the upper ends thereof which engage over the upper edges of the car side walls.

Chain hoists 61 are supported by hooks 62 on the lower ends of the hangers 59 and which include chains 63 which are engaged with the links 58. The hoists 61 include manual pull chains 64 for elevating the ballast applicator 10, and the hoists in a known manner include ratchets for retaining the applicator in elevated position.

The applicator 10 is proportioned in length to the width of the car C, and in width to the chord of the are A of the hopper swinging door D, as it swings through its natural maximum opening of about a 60 degree angle. The height of the sides of the applicator above the tops of the rails R is limited by the vertical distance of the apex of the hopper to the rails.

Hoppers of cars, when new and empty, are usually built to clear the rails by 10 to 12 inches. With old cars, under load, however, this clearance frequently falls as low as 7 inches, as a result of car body deflection, compression of springs, wheel wear, etc. With this low clearance the hopper doors barely clear the rails when they swing to a vertical position.

To meet such contingencies and enable the applicator to be rolled into position under all hoppers, this minimum clearance limitation must be considered in the design of the applicator sides with respect to their height above the tops of the rails.

In order for the hopper doors to swing freely the central bottom of the pan must be substantially in the plane of the tops of the rails, and all intermediate cross braces must be concave as indicated at 13a, (Figure 6) so as to clear the hopper doors in their swinging movements. In the present design, the applicator sides have their bottom edges positioned 1 and inches below the tops of the rails except where they are recessed out to clear the rails. This permits the grates 21 to be lowered a similar distance, thus providing the maximum clearance for the hopper doors.

Two of the applicators are shown in operative connection with a railroad car in Figure 4, particularly for the purpose of illustrating the vertical adjustment thereof. The two applicators may however be retained in position for selective use of either one thereof.

Having set forth the detail construction of the improved applicator, the operation thereof is as follows:

The operators 0 are seated at opposite ends of the applicator as is indicated in Figure l, and the applicator is in lowered rail engaging position as is the right hand one in Figure 4.

As the car C moves along the rails R with a like movement of the applicator, the operators manipulate the levers 27 which impart rotary movement to the grates 21 for effecting controlled flow of ballast onto the railroad bed. The operating levers 27 have an angular range of movement as indicated by the dot-and-dash handles 29 in Figure 1 whereby the grates 21 are selectively adjustable to and between horizontal and vertical position for maximum ballast flow control.

Should a grade crossing or the like be encountered in the course of the moving applicator, the car is brought to a stop and by means of the hoists 61 the applicator will be temporarily elevated to clear the crossing as indicated at the left of Figure 1 after which same will be lowered to its operative position and the ballast applying operation will be continued.

With the structure disclosed in Figure 15, the carriages are capable of being readily removed from the frame upon obstructions being encountered and some are also capable of being readily re-applied after such obstructions have been cleared.

Having set forth the invention in accordance with a preferred structural embodiment thereof, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by US. Letters Patent is:

1. A ballast applicator for operative disposition beneath a ballast discharge door controlled hopper opening in the bottom of a railway car, said ballast applicator comprising an elongated ballast receiving pan including a pair of side plates interconnected by transverse and intermediate braces, a bottom defined by a plurality of grates extending transversely between said side plates and longitudinally of an associated railway car when the ballast applicator is mounted for use, each of said grates including a central part and diametrically extending ribs, combined support and positioning wheels, said wheels being secured to said pan in recessed relation with said pan bottom being disposed below the undersides of said wheels, said wheels having rail engaging flanges for preventing the shifting of said pan transversely of a railway car, certain of said grates being disposed outwardly of said wheels, separate control means connected to the grates outside of said wheels and the grates inside of said wheels for controlling the flow of ballast from said pan, and means for connecting said pan to a railway car for movement therewith.

2. The ballast applicator of claim 1 wherein said pan has covers for said wheels, and portions of said side plates aligned with said wheels are recessed slightly above the lower surfaces of said wheels to clean rails in advance of said wheels.

3. The ballast applicator of claim 1 wherein said braces have downwardly curved central portions to provide a pan of maximum capacity and at the same time provide clearance for the hopper door.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 617,425 Riley Jan. 10, 1899 1,689,806 Straw Oct. 30, 1928 1,743,579 Straw Jan. 14, 1930 2,555,173 White May 29, 1951 2,694,515 Green Nov. 16, 1954 OTHER REFERENCES 1,021,540 France Dec. 3, 1952 862,578 Germany Jan. 12, 1953 

